Japan and the US hold a joint exercise on February 27, 2023. (Photo from globaltimes.cn)

2月27日，日美举行联合演习（来源：环球网）

By Wang Aoduo

王傲多

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted a joint exercise with the US Navy in Hiroshima Bay and from West of Kyushu to around Okinawa from February 27 to March 12.

日本海上自卫队日前宣布，2月27日至3月12日在广岛湾和九州以西至冲绳范围与美国海军进行联合演习。

Before the drill, Hiroshima's five peace groups, including the organization of atomic bomb survivors, demanded that the Japan-US joint military exercises in Hiroshima Bay be canceled.

演习开始前，包括原子弹受害者团体在内的5个市民团体提出抗议，要求停止军演。

Hiroshima Bay drill: Political declaration between Japan and the US.

广岛湾军演：日美“政治宣示”

In 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in order to force Japan, which had launched an aggressive war, to surrender quickly. The bomb caused approximately 200,000 casualties. Military observer Zhou Weizheng believes that for now, Japan and the US chose to hold a joint exercise near Hiroshima Bay has two reasons. The first is to make a "political declaration" and the second is to leverage the significant military value of Hiroshima.

1945年，美军为了使发动侵略战争的日本尽快投降，向广岛投放了一颗原子弹，造成约20万人伤亡。军事观察员周伟政认为，日美之所以选择在广岛湾附近举行联合演习，一是为了政治上做出“宣示”；二是因为这里具有重要的军事价值。

The Japan-US joint military drill in Hiroshima Bay aims, first and foremost, to send a signal to the international community and the Japanese people that the two countries have completely gotten rid of the historical burden and that the Japan-US alliance has reached a new height. Secondly, the area from Hiroshima Bay and the West of Kyushu to Okinawa covers multiple critical straits and waterways. Japan and the US attempt to showcase their "alliance power" through the exercise and put pressure on their opponents. Thirdly, the waters of Hiroshima Bay provide a suitable environment to organize "aggressive amphibious landing operations in complex maritime areas".

日美在广岛湾举行联合军演，首先是向国际社会和日本民众表明，两国彻底摆脱了历史“包袱”，日美同盟已经达到“新高度”。其次，从广岛湾、九州以西到冲绳这个范围，涵盖了多个关键海峡水道。日美两国要借演习展示“同盟力量”，向对手施压。第三，广岛湾水域能够很好地满足此次演习“复杂海区环境下组织进攻性两栖登陆作战”的要求。

Frequent military moves of Japan and US raise regional tensions

日美军事动作频繁挑起地区军事紧张

It is reported that Japan has dispatched the transport ship JS Osumi (LST-4001) and the US Navy has sent the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) to participate in this exercise. Zhou believes that the scale of the exercise is expanding. USS America is the most advanced amphibious warfare ship in the US military, with a displacement of 45,000 tons. Japan's Osumi transport ship has a full-load displacement of 14,000 tons and has a strong overall amphibious combat capability. Judging from the participating forces, the focus of the exercise is to organize joint amphibious landing operations with full elements under complex situations.

据了解，此次演习日本派出了运输舰“大隅”号，美国海军则派出了两栖攻击舰“美利坚”号。军事观察员周伟政认为，演习规模呈现扩大趋势。“美利坚”号是目前美军最先进的两栖作战舰艇，排水量达4.5万吨。日本的“大隅”号运输舰满载排水量1.4万吨，综合两栖作战能力较强。通过参演力量来看，演习的重点就是在复杂情况下组织全要素联合两栖登陆作战。

There have been frequent military moves between Japan and the US recently. From February 16 to March 12, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps conducted a joint exercise codenamed Iron Fist and the exercise venue switched from the US to Japan. Zhou pointed out that this made the direction of the exercise clearer. Compared with the joint exercise conducted by Japan and the US near Hiroshima Bay, the Iron Fist exercise has a larger scale and a stronger purpose. The Iron Fist exercise aims to train the US-Japan joint forces to land on enemy-held islands to enhance their joint amphibious combat capability. The change of exercise venue is another move by the US to implement the Indo-Pacific Strategy and provoke regional military tensions.

近期，日美军事动作频繁。2月16日至3月12日，日本陆上自卫队与美国海军陆战队开展代号为“铁拳”的联合演习，演习地点由美国转到了日本。周伟政指出，此举让演习的指向性更加明晰。相比日美在广岛湾附近举行的联演，“铁拳”演习规模更大、目的指向性更强。“铁拳”演习旨在训练美日联军在有敌人的离岛登陆，从而提升水陆两栖作战的联合应对能力。演习地点的变化，是美国推行“印太战略”，挑起地区军事紧张的又一动作。

Japanese people are concerned

日本民众担忧

The military moves of Japan and the US have caused a significant public backlash in Japan. On February 28, Japanese citizens and opposition party members held another protest against the 2023 defense budget passed by the Japanese House of Representatives. However, this has not affected Tokyo’s recent announcement of plans to purchase 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US to enhance its "ability to attack enemy bases." This is a manifestation of Japan and the US strengthening their military alliance and abandoning the path of peaceful development.

日美的军事动作在日本国内引起较大民意反弹。2月28日，日本民众和在野党人士再次举行抗议集会，反对日本国会众议院当天通过的2023财年防卫预算案。但这并没有影响日本近期宣布计划向美国购买400枚“战斧”巡航导弹，以增强自身“对敌基地攻击能力”。这是日美强化军事同盟，放弃和平发展路线的现实表现。

Zhou believes that if the Japanese government continues to seek military development regardless of public opinion and willingly acts as a vassal of American hegemony, it will bring many unpredictable impacts to its own security and development. Binding itself completely to the US’s chariot will undoubtedly cast a shadow on the peace and stability of the region and bring uncertain futures to the Japanese people.

周伟政认为，如果日本政府继续不顾民意谋求军力发展，甘愿沦为美式霸权附庸，将为其自身安全发展带来诸多不可预期的影响。日本彻底绑上美国“战车”，势必会给地区的和平稳定蒙上阴影，给日本民众带来不确定的未来。

Editor's note: Originally published on military.cnr.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.